Preventive maintenance for the hydraulic cooling fan.

[Blueberryyum02]

Thought I might share my procedure for keeping the hydronic fan on tip top also works on the power steering.

When I change my oil I drain at least one full quart from the cooling fan system and fill it with SEAFOAM TransTune ride for about a week or two, so it can do its job them I drain one quart and fill with regular transmission fluid that way it keeps from gumming up the actuator that controls the high speed fan operation.

I learned that the TRANSTUNE by SEAFOAM work from a member of this site.

 

[craigh]

With every oil change I use a suction gun and pull out as much fluid as I can out the both the power steering and fan reservoir's. Then refill it with synthetic ATF. This keeps the systems in fresh oil all the time, but does not clean the varnish like Blueberryyum02 does almost constantly. I also smell the fluids when I fill up and if they start to smell old or burnt I will do this procedure a couple of times in a week or so. If I remember correctly there is not much mentioned in the manual on maintenance on these systems. I read all these threads about changing out the hydraulic fan to electric and wonder if the fluid has ever been changed on these cars.

 

[Blueberryyum02]

With every oil change I use a suction gun and pull out as much fluid as I can out the both the power steering and fan reservoir's. Then refill it with synthetic ATF. This keeps the systems in fresh oil all the time, but does not clean the varnish like Blueberryyum02 does almost constantly. I also smell the fluids when I fill up and if they start to smell old or burnt I will do this procedure a couple of times in a week or so. If I remember correctly there is not much mentioned in the manual on maintenance on these systems. I read all these threads about changing out the hydraulic fan to electric and wonder if the fluid has ever been changed on these cars.

Yeah I think most people was quick to convert the fan instead of flickering the root cause which was the ATF from the factory. As long as it's in good mechanical condition cleaning it out and routine maintenance should keep it trouble free.

 

[86markviilsc]

There is no interval for the fan or power steering, the manual just says "keep fluid topped off". But changing the fluid or even some of the fluid is a good practice and will increase the service life of components at least some.

 

[RigsLS]

MERCON Shots anyone ?

Changed some fluids last night.

Left to Right,

1) Fresh new Motorcraft MERCON V ATF
2) Used Hydraulic Cooling Fan Fluid
3) Used Power Steering Fluid

Handy Dandy Homemade Turkey Baster suction extension.

You'll need it to turn the corner around the level floats on both reservoirs.

Power Steering has a handy little filtering screen that will have to come out

Loosen two side clips and pull it out so the suction extension can reach the bottom.

There are floats in both reservoirs which will require some navigating around to get all the fluids out.

Refill with fresh MERCON V ATF and recheck levels, run the LS and crank AC to activate the Hydraulic fan motor.


Double checked all other fluids and oils, topped up the washer and Brake fluid some.

All systems GO ~ clear for take off, Fun Fun Fun ...

I did ... I did just quote myself again!
Is that even allowed?

 

[craigh]

Nice post Big Rig! Could you smell a difference between those ATF samples?

 

[RigsLS]

That was last summer but yeah, old vs new smell. didn't taste it though!